Rockies right-hander Jon Gray, who faces the Padres Saturday night, will be on a strict pitch count the rest of the season. (AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post)

This is my opinion: I thought the Rockies should have allowed Jon Gray to go out for the seventh inning when he pitched against the Mets at Citi Field last week. As part of his development, I thought Gray would have benefited from pitching another inning, in a tight game, on a big stage, vs. a playoff contender.

Gray was brilliant, allowing one run on one hit over six innings. He threw just 75 pitches and left the game with a 2-1 lead. Nevertheless, Rockies manager Walt Weiss never hesitated about pulling Gray after six innings.

Gray pitches again against the Padres Saturday night at Coors Field. Before the game, I asked Weiss about the club’s blueprint in developing Gray.

Q: “The decision on when to pull Gray — because of innings or pitch count — is that on your shoulders or is that coming from above, from GM Jeff Bridich? Do you have any wiggle room?”

Weiss: “No, there are pretty specific parameters in place when he takes the mound. There may be a little bit of wiggle room, but we aren’t going to mess a whole lot with those parameters.”

Q: “Is 75 pitches the ballpark pitch count?”

Weiss: “Yeah, but some of it is dependent on his previous start or the previous couple of starts. Again, we have the big picture of the innings he’s going to end up logging this year as opposed to last year. We will watch how much of an increase that is. That’s what we’ve got our eyes on.”

Q: “Playing devil’s advocate for a minute. In his last start, when he was so good, were you tempted to let him go out for another inning because of the experience he might get, in a tight game, against the Mets, on a big stage? Are there benefits to that? Or are those outweighed.”

Weiss: “They are outweighed. This is the plan. This is not something that was developed on a whim. It was developed from a lot of conversations and a lot of information we put together.”

The Colorado Rockies’ Kyle Parker watches his RBI double against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the fourth inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014 in Los Angeles. (Alex Gallardo, The Associated Press)

“I feel like my game still needs to improve, but I keep getting better. I have been playing a lot more first and I feel a lot more comfortable there,” said Parker, who played 18 games for the Rockies last season, but got limited at-bats and limited results. He hit .192 (5-for-26) with one run, one double and one RBI.

Promoting Parker was just one of the moves the Rockies made Saturday. Right-handed starter Kyle Kendrick was placed on the 15-day DL with right shoulder inflammation. He’s scheduled to undergo an MRI on Monday to determine the severity of his injury.

Rockies pitcher Jorge De La Rosa is on the verge of becoming the winningest pitcher in franchise history. (Ben Margot, The Associated Press)

Miami — Jorge De La Rosa can make Rockies history Sunday afternoon if he can beat the Miami Marlins.

The veteran left-hander needs one win to become the franchise leader in wins, with 73. He’s currently tied with right-hander Aaron Cook with 72. Earlier this season, De La Rosa became the franchise leader in career strikeouts, passing Ubaldo Jimenez on May 21. Jimenez had 773 strikeouts from 2006-2011. De La Rosa has 788 career Ks in a Rockies uniform.

To set the victory record on Sunday, De La Rosa could use a little help from an offense that is taking an early summer siesta. During the current four-game losing streak that began Wednesday at Coors Field against the Cardinals, the Rockies have scored four runs on just 25 hits. They have walked a grand total of four times, while striking out 38 times.

Stanton question: Miami slugger Giancarlo Stanton — who leads the majors with 23 homers and 59 RBIs — has pounded the Rockies in the first three games of this four-game series. He’s hit .545 (6-for-11) with two homers, two doubles, eight RBIs and three runs scored.

Why not just pitch around him? Or at least pitch to him extra carefully? That was the question I posed to manager Walt Weiss Sunday morning.

“That’s been our game plan all series,” Weiss said. “But it’s tough when the guys in front of him are getting on base and there is nowhere to put him. Still, we are trying to pitch him carefully, but any mistake we have made has been hammered. He’s really locked in right now.”

Dickerson update: The news on Corey Dickerson Sunday morning was better than it was Saturday night when he left the game in pain the sixth inning when the plantar fasciitis in his left foot flared up.

“It’s better, not nearly as bad as it was before I went on the DL,” Dickerson said. “I wasn’t scheduled to play today anyway. I’ll be back on the field soon.”

Said Weiss: “Corey’s actually doing pretty well today. It was good news. He wasn’t going to be in the lineup today anyway after his foot flared up last night. I want to pick spots to get him off his feet, so that will be the plan moving forward.”

Former Rockies all-star first baseman Andres Galarraga shares a few laughs with former teqammate Eric Young and current Rockies right fielder Carlos Gonzalez on Saturday before the Rockies played the Marlins in Miami.

Miami — There were smiles all around the batting cage Saturday afternoon at Marlins Park.

It couldn’t be helped, not with Andres “The Big Cat” Galarraga on hand.

“One of the great smiles of all time, and he wore it 24-7,” said Rockies manager Walt Weiss, who played with Galarraga for four years in Colorado (1994-97) and three in Atlanta (1998-2000).

Galarraga, who lives about an hour north of Miami in West Palm Beach, was celebrating “Venezuela Day” at Marlins Park by throwing out the first pitch. Galarraga, 53, was born in Caracas, Venezuela, on June 18, 1961.

“This is special, against the Rockies, and in Miami,” said Galarraga, who wore a purple-striped shirt for the occasion.

The Big Cat, of course, was the Rockies’ first big star. Under the tutelage of manager Don Baylor, he resurrected his career in 1993, hitting .370 to win the National League batting title in the Rockies’ first year of existence. The nimble first baseman was a three-time all-star with the Rockies.

Galarraga hit 399 career homers for seven different teams in his long career, but being in Miami, the subject of his most famous home run came up Saturday. It was a towering grand-slam off the Marlins’ Kevin Brown on May 31, 1997 into the upper deck at Pro Player Stadium. It was originally called one of the longest homers ever hit, traveling 579 feet. The homer was later reduced to a more modest 529 feet.

Rockies pitcher Jordan Lyles holds his face as he winces while home plate umpire Ted Barrett and third baseman Nolan Arenado look after him against the Philadelphia Phillies during the second inning of a game at Citizens Bank Park on May 31, 2015 in Philadelphia. (Rich Schultz, Getty Images)

“I don’t feel like I’m snake bit or anything like that, just unfortunate.”

Those were the words of Colorado Rockies right-hander Jordan Lyles on Monday when word came down that he will go on the 15-day disabled list with what the team is calling “a badly sprained left big toe.”

Lyles will see a foot specialist on Tuesday to see if his toe injury will heal on its own, or if surgery is needed to repair a torn toe ligament.

“If I have to have surgery, I don’t know how long I will be out,” said Lyles, who is 2-5 with a 5.14 ERA in 10 starts.

Taking Lyles’ place on the Rockies’ 25-man roster is right-handed reliever Tommy Kahnle, who was called up from Triple-A Albuquerque. Kahnle was 1-2 with a 3.68 ERA in 17 appearances at Triple-A.

Rockies right-handed reliever Brooks Brown came off the 15-day disabled list Saturday in time for a doubleheader with the Giants. ( Justin Edmonds, Getty Images)

The Rockies did some bullpen shuffling before Saturday’s doubleheader against the Giants at Coors Field.

Hard-throwing right-hander Brooks Brown returned from the 15-day disabled list, saying his shoulder feels strong again. To make room on the 25-man roster, the Rockies placed lefty reliever Ken Roberts on the DL with left elbow inflammation. The club doesn’t think it’s a serious injury, but they are watching it carefully.

The Rockies and Giants can both expand their rosters to 26 players for the second game of the doubleheader, and in the Rockies’ case, the 26th man will be starting pitcher David Hale, who will make his Rockies debut.

Rockies first baseman Justin Morneau is still dealing with concussion-like symptoms. (John Leyba, The Denver Post)

Rockies first baseman Justin Morneau, on baseball’s special seven-day disabled list as he deals with concussion-like symptoms, is going to be out a while longer.

The reigning National League batting champion is eligible to come off the DL on Friday, but manager Walt Weiss said Thursday that Morneau’s return is on hold.

“It’s probably not just (seven-days),” manager Walt Weiss said before the Rockies hosted the Phillies at Coors Field. “I’m not going to say it’s going to be a whole lot longer than that, but he’s not going to be in the lineup in two days.”

Colorado Rockies left fielder Corey Dickerson grimaces during a recent game as he walks off the field. Dickerson is dealing with plantar fasciitis in his left foot.(John Leyba, The Denver Post)

Los Angeles — Rockies trainer Keith Dugger was a very busy man Sunday morning before the Rockies played the Dodgers.

He’s trying to got Troy Tulowitzki, Jorge De La Rosa and Corey Dickerson back on the field. And trying to get right-hander Jordan Lyles ready for his start on Monday against the Phillies.

Of all the injuries, Dickerson’s is the most worrisome right now.

He aggravated the plantar fasciitis in his left foot while running in the outfield Saturday night. When he made a sudden stop on the warning track, the conditioned flared up. A trip to the 15-day disabled list is a possibility, though Dickerson said he doesn’t think it would help.

“I don’t know if that time would help,” he said. “To heal it, it will take a lot of time, or tearing (the tissue in his foot), to get better. So I don’t know.”

Dickerson is frustrated by the injury, especially because his foot was feeling better on Saturday before he aggravated it.

“Yesterday was the best it has ever felt, and I was running well,” Dickerson said.

Manager Walt Weiss said he’s concerned about Dickerson’s injury. Asked if putting Dickerson on the disabled list was a possibility, Weiss said: “Yeah, but not today, not right now. We will see how it plays out for a couple of days. But it is concerning, because we do know the nature of that injury. It doesn’t go away. He’s been dealing with it. ‘Doogie’ and the staff have been doing a great job with it. But he’s sore today.”

Tulowitzki was out of that starting lineup for the second straight game after experiencing tightness in his left quad in the third inning of Friday night’s game. Tulo went through agility drills Sunday morning and did well. According to manager Walt Weiss, the shortstop would be available to pinch hit “if we have a chance to win the game.”

However, it’s still not clear when Tulo will be back in the starting lineup.

De La Rosa, who was sensational in beating the Dodgers Saturday night — allowing no runs on just two hits with no walks and three strikeouts in 7 1.3 innings — did some light jogging Sunday morning. He re-injured the left groin that cost him the first two weeks of the regular season.

“I hope I can make my next start,” he said. “It’s not as bad as it was early in the season. We have to test it out.”

Lyles, who suffered a nasty contusion on his right hand when the Angels’ Albert Pujols hit a wicked comebacker at him last week, is still scheduled to start on Monday.

“There’s still some swelling,” Weiss said. “But it’s a lot better than I thought it would be.”

The Rockies’ Justin Morneau high fives teammate Colorado Rockies Carlos Gonzalez after hitting a three-run home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning of a baseball game, Monday, April 27, 2015, in Phoenix. (Matt York, The Associated Press)

SAN DIEGO — Rockies manager Walt Weiss is aware of the numbers.

He knows that first baseman Justin Morneau has hit Padres ace James Shields well — a .320 average (16-for-50) with four home runs. Still, Weiss sat Morneau, as well as Troy Tulowitzki, for Sunday’s game against the Padres.

Morneau is not hurt, but he is 0-for-8 in this series.

“There is nothing going on, it’s just a day I targeted for both of them” Weiss said before the game, as the Rockies attempted to break their four-game losing streak.

Colorado Rockies right fielder Carlos Gonzalez swings and misses during an at-bat in the eighth inning against the San Diego Padres at Coors Field on April 22, 2015, in Denver. The Rockies defeated the Padres 5-4. (Daniel Petty, The Denver Post)

The numbers scream slump: .179 batting average, .217 on-base percentage, three walks and 10 strikeouts in 56 at-bats. He has one home run and five RBIs in 14 games.

He started Thursday’s game against the Padres on the bench.

Carlos Gonzalez, being CarGo, was not happy he was not playing. But his boss thought it was time.

“I’ve been picking days for guys and I’ve been wanting to give CarGo one for the last few days,” Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. “But Dickey (Corey Dickerson) was banged up and we were short-handed. So I thought a day game after a night game was a good spot for it.”

Colorado Rockies pitcher Jorge De La Rosa is hoping to rejoin the Rockies’ rotation for Tuesday’s game at San Francisco. (Ben Margot, The Associated Press)

Lefty Jorge De La Rosa took a step toward joining the Rockies’ rotation. Was it a big enough step? That remains to be seen. He is tentatively scheduled to start Tuesday night at San Francisco.

De La Rosa pitched four innings and gave up one run in an injury rehab start for Triple-A Albuquerque against Reno Thursday night.

De La Rosa, on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left groin, gave up four hits — including a Peter O’Brien solo homer in the second inning — struck out three and walked two. He threw 57 pitches, 38 for strikes.

“I felt good, I threw all of my pitches, but my fastball command wasn’t sharp,” he said Friday morning before the Rockies home opener vs. the Cubs at Coors Field.

Scottsdale, Ariz. — The Rockies’ starting rotation for the opening week of the regular season is taking shape.

Sort of.

A lot depends on Eddie Butler’s quirky right shoulder.

The right-hander is throwing long toss Wednesday to test his shoulder. If it passes, Butler he would be in line to pitch on Saturday and then could be available to start next’s Wednesday’s game at Milwaukee — the third game of the regular season.

“He has a a good chance of pitching that third game — if he’s healthy,” manager Walt Weiss said Wednesday morning. “But that’s a big if. As we sit here today, that’s a really big if. I mean, he came out in the first inning of his last start.”

That was on Monday vs. the Cubs when he struggled and left the game with what the team called “shoulder fatigue.”

“It’s doing a lot better,” Butler said Wednesday. “We’ll see how I do today, but I’m hoping.”

The other two candidates for the open spot in the rotation are right-handers Christian Bergman and Chad Bettis.

Weiss did confirm that right-hander Jordan Lyles will start Game 2 in Milwaukee on Tuesday. Veteran right-hander Kyle Kendirck will start on opening day against the Brewers.

Lefty Tyler Matzek has been tabbed to start the Rockies’ home opener against the Cubs on April 10 at Coors Field.

The Rockies are likely to begin the season with a four-man rotation as lefty Jorge De La Rosa recovers from a strained left groin.

Colorado Rockies’ Drew Stubbs swings for a home run off San Diego Padres’ Tyson Ross in the first inning of a spring training exhibition baseball game Wednesday, March 18, 2015, in Scottsdale, Ariz. Stubbs has otherwise struggled with strikeouts in spring training. (Ben Margot, The Associated Press)

MESA, Ariz. — Spring training stats don’t matter.

That’s written in every big-league manager’s baseball bible. But I’ll bet there is an asterisk with a footnote that says: “Unless it’s a young player trying to make the roster, or unless it’s a veteran who has struck out 23 times in 41 at-bats.”

The latter applies directly to backup outfielder Drew Stubbs, who is hitting .195, and who has, indeed, struck out 23 times in 41 at-bats this spring.

“We certainly check in with a player (who’s slumping),” manager Walt Weiss said Monday morning before the Rockies played the A’s at Hohokam Stadium. “(Hitting coach) Blake Doyle has been working with him in the cage. They are communicating, as far as what ‘Stubby’ is feeling right now.”

Hitting a pitcher eighth instead of in the traditional nine-hole is something Weiss might do during the regular season. It’s something his mentor, former A’s and Cardinals manager Tony La Russa, used to do.

Weiss believes the Rockies have a deep, talented and versatile lineup and he wants to take advantage of it. In Monday’s game, Weiss has slugger Carlos Gonzalez hitting second.

“It intrigues me enough that I wanted to look at it a few times down here,” Weiss said. “I told our guys that I didn’t want them to think that I’m screwing with our chances to win, or that I think I’m smarter than the game or smarter than anybody else. We all know that’s not the case.

Colorado Rockies first baseman Justin Morneau is leading the race for the NL batting title entering the final two games of the season. (The Associated Press)

LOS ANGELES — Justin Morneau’s slim lead in the National League batting title is safe for now, which is a big part of the reason why the Rockies’ first baseman is not in the starting lineup for Saturday night’s game against the Dodgers.

Asked if he would consider sitting Morneau in Sunday’s season finale should Morneau enter that game with a lead, manager Walt Weiss answered: “We’ll see where he stands at that point. … He has worked very hard to put himself in this position.

“I mean, people talk about backing into a batting title and all of that stuff. I don’t think there is such a thing. It takes six months to win it. How do you back into something that takes six months to win? But he’s had a great, great year. It would be the icing on the cake.”

Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez is trying to look ahead as he rehabs his surgically-repaired left knee. (Hyoung Chang, The Denver Post)

Carlos Gonzalez has been off his crutches for only a few days, so he’s still walking gingerly. For a guy who’s used to gliding across the outfield, it’s not been easy dealing with the after effects of knee surgery.

“Right now, we are doing movements to get my knee to bend 100 percent,” he said Friday from the clubhouse at Coors Field before the Rockies hosted the Diamondbacks. “It’s not there yet, but it’s getting there. I’m making progress.”

CarGo remains optimistic that he’ll be ready — or close to being ready — when the Rockies report to Salt River Fields for spring training in mid-February. He underwent surgery on Aug. 19 to repair his aching left knee. Doctors cut out a torn part of Gonzalez’s patella tendon in his left knee. They also removed a bursa sac and cleaned up a fat pad.

Gonzalez played through left knee tendinitis most the season before being shut down for good on Aug. 14 after an MRI showed his knee injury grew worse in recent weeks.

CarGo said it’s still difficult to maneuver stairs, something that frustrates him.

“The doctor says I just have to take it easy,” CarGo said. “He keeps telling me to be patient. He tells me there are going to be days when I’m going to feel like I can do more, but he says I have to take it slow. I’m listening to him.”

In 2013, Rex Brothers had a dream season, going 2-1 with a 1.74 ERA. He converted 19 of 21 save opportunities.

This year, the lefty reliever is 4-6 with a 5.86 ERA. He walked the bases full in the eighth inning Friday night, setting the stage for the Rockies’ 5-2 loss to the Diamondbacks. The 2014 season has been a nightmare.

In response, manager Walt Weiss is going to give Brothers some breathing room in the final month of the season. Weiss will be selective in how he uses Brothers.

“With the expanded roster and everything, I’ll pick my spots,” Weiss said Saturday before the Rockies played the Diamondbacks. “I’m not saying that he’s not going to pitch with the lead, or anything like that. But if I have the opportunity to help him work through some things, and not have him in the fire down the stretch, I’m going to do that.”

Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado it putting up impressive offensive numbers in the second half of the sesaon. (Denver Post file photo)

Lost in the morass of the Rockies’ losses and injuries has been the steady development of third baseman Nolan Arenado.

No, not at third base, where his routinely spectacular play earned him a Gold Glove as a rookie last season. Rather, his growth has come at the plate; something that is turning him into a bona fide star.

“It’s about him maturing as a hitter,” manager Walt Weiss said before the Rockies hosted the Marlins Saturday night at Coors Field. “Obviously, his defense has always been at an elite level. But now I see him slowing down his at-bats and thinking along with the pitcher.”

Patrick, a third-generation Colorado native, is back for his second stint covering the Rockies. He first covered the team from 2005-2009, helping chronicle “Rocktober” in 2007 and also following the team’s playoff run in 2009.

Nick Groke has worked at The Denver Post since 1997, as a sports reporter, city reporter, entertainment writer and digital editor and producer, among other newsroom posts. He also writes regularly about boxing, soccer, MMA and NASCAR.